A Lagos based private facility, The Prostate Clinic, has performed more than 100 robotic assisted prostate cancer surgeries within its first year of operation, marking a milestone in specialised healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The achievement was announced during the clinic’s first anniversary event, where patients and stakeholders described the development as a significant step toward improving access to advanced medical care locally and reducing dependence on treatment abroad.

The milestone comes amid concerns over the economic impact of medical tourism, with the African Export-Import Bank estimating that Nigeria loses about 1.1 billion dollars annually to overseas medical treatment.

Speaking at the event, the clinic’s founder, Kingsley Ekwueme, said the facility was established to provide world class prostate cancer care within the country and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad.

He noted that prostate cancer outcomes in Nigeria remain poor due to late diagnosis, adding that a large proportion of cases are detected at advanced stages compared to lower rates in countries such as the United Kingdom.

Ekwueme said the clinic utilises the Da Vinci robotic system, which he described as a leading technology for precision surgery, and emphasised that early detection significantly improves survival rates.

He urged men, particularly those above 45 or with a family history of the disease, to undergo regular screening, including Prostate Specific Antigen tests, noting that early stage prostate cancer often presents without symptoms.

The clinic also disclosed plans to expand its services through the establishment of a robotic oncology centre in Imo State in partnership with the state government.